Tag Archives: ipad 2

Whether you're the next great director or just an avid home videographer, a new iPad accessory will make your movie making a lot easier without the need for pro equipment. With a recently launched Kickstarter campaign, iOgrapher is a combination iPad carrying case and mount that turns your iPad mini into a sort of pro video camera.

Branded as the "first all purpose film making case for the iPad Mini," the iOgrapher is a tough, high-grade plastic case for iPad mini equipped with side handles for smooth video recording.

Like most good inventions, this ingenious iPad accessory was designed as a rel-world solution to an everyday problem faced by the inventor. As a high school media-arts teacher, iOgrapher creator Dave Basulto found there was room for improvement in the shaky videos his students shot on iPad.

The problem wasn't really about the device itself. As Mashable notes, with its 1080p video recording quality th iPad mini is a pretty good video tool and could "serve students well as a shooting, editing and even a distribution device."

But getting a stable hand is tricky with the iPad mini, so Basulto went to work on a mount-style case that could capitalize on the iPad's video capabilities.

The iOgrapher is designed so that you can mount it on a tripod, monopod, or portable dolly for even more professional looking video. It can be fitted with different, separately sold lenses, like fisheye, wide angle, macro, and close-up.

And, if you want cinematic sound quality, this iPad carrying case with handles also sports three accessories "shoes" at the top for attaching lightning audio gear.

The concept is so well thought out and has such useful application that Basulto's already started working on prototypes for other Apple devices as well. He's also got video-centric accessories for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPad 2 in the works.

But, with the iPad mini's easy portability and ideal preview-sized screen, we're hedging our bets that the original model of this nifty new iPad carrying case will be most would-be directors' top choice.

Even when you know what you want, It's nice to have choices. And if you're among the growing number of people who feel Griffin's Survivor case is the obvious choice when it comes to protective carrying cases for iPad, it's good to know your accessory doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

This week's mobile accessory of the week, the Survivor Case for iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4, is among the best, as one would expect from Griffin. Touted as a "military-duty" accessory, it's designed to help your iPad survive even the harshest conditions, from drops, shocks and vibrations to sand, dirt and rain.

Griffin Survivor Case for iPad 2/3/4 in Acid Green and Black

With a rigid internal frame that has survived test drops of 6 feet on concrete, and a shock absorbing silicone outer than can withstand vibrations of up to 2,000 MHz for hours on end, you know the Survivor iPad case can handle whatever your tablet is going to face in an an ordinary day.

And design details, like an integrated screen protector, multi-position kickstand, and easy-to-open port sealer show just how much thought Griffin has put into this iPad case.

But what's extra nice is the fact that, unlike some other great iPad carrying cases, the Survivor doesn't just come in standard black or white. Instead, men and women alike will find tons of choice when it comes to color.

From a punky acid green and black combo, to a sweet and regal lavender and purple mix, to the very sporty black and royal blue model, this is one iPad Case with many different personalities.

Griffin Survivor Case for iPad 2/3/4 in Black and Royal Blue

It's one thing to find all the specs you need for the best possible iPad protection, and quite another to find all that along with great styling and design. But with their Survivor Case for iPad, Griffin's thought of it all. And that's what makes it our top pick for mobile accessory of the week.

Love gaming and love your iPad, but don't love gaming on your iPad? A new concept in iPad accessories, launched just this week on Kickstarter, is looking to bring your two great loves together, with a carrying case designed specifically for gaming and gamers.

Engadget reported yesterday on the latest idea from Audojo, a case that supplies what most gamers find lacking when playing on their tablet – physical controls.

The case, which is compatible with iPad 2 or higher, closes around the ends of your iPad, giving you two analog joysticks, shoulder buttons, and stereo speakers.Meanwhile, the rest of your tablet is left free, so you can use your camera or any of your tablet's buttons without hassle.

There are, of course, other gaming controllers for iPad out there. But how Audojo's differs, says Engadget, is that rather than connecting via Bluetooth, it uses a low-latency microphone-based interface.

hile the case does have a mini-USB connector for charging, it doesn't actually act as a charger for your iPad, which would be cool but would also make the gadget a lot more expensive, so Audojo's decided to keep it simple, for a cheaper, more accessible design.

This isn't a perfect accessory – yet. Engadget took issue with its prototype, which it said "looks a little clunky since it adds quite a bit of bulk to the iPad's figure," though they also noted that, when you're actually using it, "it's light and well balanced and feels comfortable in hand."

They also found that the pods for the shoulder buttons, electronics and batteries, housed at the back of the case, are "are currently too wide but Audojo plans to remedy this before production thanks to an improved circuit board layout."

Audojo's gaming case is far from hitting any store shelves. But if its Kickstarter campaign works out as planned, we should eventually see a slimmer, more refined version of this already pretty cool prototype. And though we're not counting our chickens before they hatch, we have a hunch it could be one of the best iPad accessories yet made for the gaming crowd.

Having a valuable stolen is already bad enough; You feel violated, and now you'll have to foot the cost of replacing it too.

Getting a mobile device, like a phone, laptop or tablet stolen is even worse, because, aside from loosing a costly device, you lose content like music and personal pictures and video, and personal information.

But there's at least one way to safeguard against this type of personal and financial loss. And it's so genius that we've named it our Mobile Accessory of the Week.

Kensington's Patented SecureBack cases attach to the rear of you iPad while their ClickSafe lock anchors are made from aircraft grade steel and secure to the ports on your iPad with a single click. These tamper-resistant lock anchors have thousands of possible key combinations, and are chrome-plated to resist corrosion and wear.

The security that Kensington cases offer is in itself a strong selling point, but the company has by no means neglected other areas of design.

For the full deal, you can get the Case, Keyboard & Lock for iPad 2, which includes a removable bluetooth keyboard and an integrated folio that does double duty as carrying case and multi-postion stand.

Choices, choices, choices and oh so many choices what PC Tablet should I choose to own. Well let me help as here's a list of some of your many PC Tablet Options to own.

1.) Most PC Tablets have a screen ranging from 7- up to 13-inches with no definite static and blurry boundaries as Smartphone screens get larger displays. The Toshiba AT200 was released in January 2012 and features a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a decent array of ports including micro SD, USB and HDMI. The Toshiba AT200 is literally the world's thinnest 10-inch tablet with price tag between $399 to $499.

2.) The Sony Tablet Swas released in September 2011 featuring a unique design angle, styled to resemble a folded over paperback book and an Android 3.1 operating system. The Sony Tablet S also features other exclusive content including various for the Sony PlayStation titles which you won't get on other Android tabs. It also includes a very user friendly touch-screen and unique shape which definitely makes it a standout. Sony Tablet S& Sony Tablet S currently retails for $349 for 16GB and $429 for 32GB.

3.) The ASUS Transformer Pad 300 was recently release in May 2012 featuring the power of a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, a 10.1-inch display and 12 hour battery life. The tablet also comes with running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box meaning it'll already up to date with most Android Operating Systems. The ASUS Transformer Pad 300 retails for $399, its price difference is most notable with when it comes to the materials used to build the ASUS Transformer Pad 300.

4.) The Apple iPad 2 is a favorite among many tablet users that was released in March 2011 that still features a top tablet experience with access to the Apple store and iTunes libraries. Unfortunately the iPad 2 is currently only available in 16GB and retails for between $399-$699 depending on your chosen iPad features.

5.) The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 was released in October 2011 featuring smaller and lighter Galaxy Tab 8.9 which is perfect for reading books, checking emails and browsing the Internet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is great for those who want an e-reader with extra media functions, or for those who are more weight than screen size Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is perfect for budget friendly tablet shoppers ranging between $300-400 depending once again on your chosen features.

6.) The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was released in July 2011 and features 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) display, 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB RAM, 3.15MP rear camera with 720p video recording, 2MP front camera and the choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 claims to be “smaller, thinner and lighter than the new iPad 3, and with a screen which matches the iPad 2 the Galaxy Tab 10.1 provides a real alternative in an Apple-dominated tablet market.” The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1retails for $399.

7.) The Samsung's Series 7 Slate features was released in September 2011 and features a powerful touch-screen Windows 7 PC, with a very Windows-8-like optional interface. The Samsung Series 7 S late isthe fastest Windows 7 tablet we've tested, and paired with its optional accessories providing one of the best tablet laptop experiences you ever have. However, its $1400 price tag may be a bit too expensive for most consumers.

8.) The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 high resolution screen is a rival to any other PC tablet because of its sharpness and clarity display, the applications load exceptionally quickly and is described as being “a state of the art PC Tablet.” The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 also features a Tegra 3 chip and 8-megapixel camera, but it adds a higher-res, 1920 x 1200 display. The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700retails for $499 with some pending price cuts.

9.) The Toshiba Excite 7.7was just released earlier this year in 2012 featuring a AMOLED screen, a quad-core processor, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This PC Tablet also measures 8 inches wide, 5.31 inches tall, is about a fourth of an inch thick and is a lightweight contender at 0.77 pound which is lightweight and easy to handle. The display has a resolution of 1,280x800 pixels, which makes watching videos that fit its 16:10 aspect some of the best video you'll see on a PC Tablet. The Toshiba Excite 7.7retails for between $479.99-$599.99.

10.) The Samsung Galaxy Tablet 2 10.1 is the newest member of the Android Tablet family that was just released in summer 2012. The Samsung Galaxy Tablet 2 10.1features offers near-identical specs, including a 10-inch, 1280 x 800 PLS display, dual-core 1GHz TI chip, 1GB of RAM and a minimum of 16GB of internal memory storage as its predecessor the Samsung Galaxy Tablet 10.1. It also features a 1280 x 800 PLS panel and is slightly thicker 1.29 pounds / .41 inches thick vs. 1.25 pounds / .33 inches than its predecessor. The Samsung Galaxy Tablet 2 10.1retails for between $399-$499 depending upon your chosen memory chosen.

Fans all over the world have been bombarded with speculation about this major update to Apple’s mobile platform, and now we all have a preliminary look. Last week, Apple finally revealed the details for its iOS 6 with the low-down on over 200 new features, services and user interface upgrades.

Apple has less than three months to get iOS 6 ready for release. Here’s the low-down on one of the first reviews.

First Impressions

The beta release is available to developers, getting the new code into the hands of those who produce the apps in the crowded App Store. This evaluation is based on testing with the iPhone 4S, so if you have a different mobile device, your results may be different.

Two hundred tweaks may sound like a lot (and it is), but there are a few key additions, updates and changes with iOS 6 that deserve a closer look. We’ll highlight the biggest upcoming changes that could have even Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone loyalists thinking twice about Apple's iPhone.

Siri

Siri capability is added to the iPad 3 (but not older iPads or the iPhone 4 and earlier.) Siri has only been available on iPhone 4S until now.

Siri answers sports questions that go beyond just game scores including history, stats, player bios, and records without switching over to the browser.

Siri answers questions about movies like actors, directors, awards and movie stats, and shows status of premieres, reviews, trailers and tickets. It will bring up nearby listings and enable ticket purchases through Fandango.

Siri understands more languages Canadian English and French, Spanish, Italian, the varieties of German, Italian and French spoken in Switzerland, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese. These are also supported in the satellite navigation app.

Siri finds the restaurant you are looking for and filters the results based on user reviews. It provides for detailed searches based on food type, location, outdoor, pool, price range, ratings, and more. (This feature is not available in every country.)

Twitter became integrated into iOS 5, and now Apple is doing the same with Facebook in iOS 6. Everything you can do now with Twitter, you'll be able to do with Facebook.

Use Siri to post Facebook updates and tweets.

With the link to Facebook you can update your contacts’ pictures, addresses, important dates, emails, phone numbers and websites. You will also get a new Facebook field with a shortcut to your contacts’ Facebook profile. It will load in the Safari browser, not the dedicated Facebook app.

All Facebook events will appear in the Calendar.

Facebook integration extends to the App Store and the iTunes Store. Whenever you tap on an app, song, movie, TV show, and more three tabs pop up: info, reviews and related.

Share photos on Facebook from inside the Camera or Photo apps.

Share addresses with a pin in Maps.

In another blow to Google, there’s no Google+ integration. Then again, there's no Google+ integration in Android either…

Apple Maps

Google has been providing an Apple version of its Google Maps since iOS was born. But iOS 6 kicks Google Maps to the curb. While the Google version may still be available in the App Store, Apple’s iOS 6 Maps provided by TomTom will have the default position. Here are a few of the highlights:

iOS 6 Maps uses TomTom for all mapping and traffic data.

Siri connects to these maps, and turn-by-turn voice navigation is included for free.

3D "Flyover" maps are available on the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and the New iPad/iPad 3 (older models won't support the advanced graphics.). Zoom, tilt and rotate the landscape to explore 3D landmarks in real time.

Access local search and Yelp reviews.

Navigation even works in the lock screen mode and behind other apps. This is ideal for use in car mounts.

Offline mapping capability should be available in the coming weeks.

PassBook

Passbook is a single app that collects and intelligently displays boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, and loyalty cards.

Any travel changes (like gate changes and fee differences) are displayed in Passbook in real-time as long as you have a data connection. This is a airline carrier partnership deal. So far the only airline to sign up is United. A lot more carriers will have to join to make this one worthwhile.

The location-aware app makes the right coupon available in the right place and at the right time.

The PassBook will report the balance on coupons and cards, let you check your ticket seats and can even show you relevant notifications (e.g. gate or terminal change for a flight).

Safari browser

The Safari browser has gotten a few minor updates:

It’s faster than it was on the iOS 5. Its benchmark scores for SunSpider, BrowserMark and HTML5test.com show significant improvement over iOS 5.1.1.

A full-screen view option is available from a dedicated button on the taskbar. It works only in landscape mode.

iCloud tab syncing is enabled, along with offline reading.

You can access to your multimedia content without exiting the browser.

Email

Good old email got some updates too:

Set up friends’ emails in a dedicated VIP mailbox, and it will appear highlighted in the regular inbox. Designate where you want to be notified of VIP emails (for example, put them on the lockscreen.)

Flag important emails and they’ll be placed in a Flagged mailbox.

Use different mail signatures for multiple email accounts.

Insert pictures or videos in emails just by tapping and holding on an empty space and accessing them from a pop-up menu.

The update button is now gone and there's a pull to refresh instead.

Phone app

Apple is adding some much needed calling features:

When you decline an incoming call, you can reply to it with a text message or set a callback reminder.

Use the Do Not Disturb setting to bypass calls and texts, except those from callers on your VIP list.

If the Repeated calls feature is activated a second call from the same contact within less than three minutes will not be silenced (it might be an emergency.)

App Store and iTunes Store

With iOS 6 Apple has updated the App Store and iTunes Store and content handling:

Featured pages have scrollable rows rather than lists.

The App Store won't prompt you to enter your password when you’re just updating apps.

You can see the change log in the Updates screen without opening the info screen.

After you buy or update apps you can continue browsing the store. You can also launch apps you've already installed from within the store.

The Game Center gets Facebook integration and supports challenges.

FaceTime

FaceTime for 3G is finally here, allowing FaceTime to work over cellular networks, not just Wi-Fi.

FaceTime now supports video chatting on data networks, but be warned; these chats run through around 3MB per minute and will chew through your LTE data plan in short order.

The unified FaceTime/iMessages ID lets you receive calls on an iPad using your phone number.

Other FaceTime improvements include updated Stores and system apps, new icons, and revised settings.

Guided Access and Lost Mode

Apple is working hard to bring iOS to people with disabilities through its Guided Access.

It helps students with disabilities remain on task and focused on content.

It allows a parent, teacher, or administrator to limit an iOS device to one app by disabling the Home button as well as restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen.

VoiceOver, a screen reader technology for blind and low-vision users, is now integrated with Maps, AssistiveTouch, and Zoom.

Guided Access could be useful as a kid- or test- mode. Loan your Apple device to your kids without being worried that they will access inappropriate content or change your settings and apps.

Lost Mode is part of the former Find My iPhone service. If you lose your gadget, you can lock it remotely and send a message with your contact information. Lost Mode doesn’t have data wiping capability.

Miscellaneous mentions

Right inside the Photo app is a sub-social network for pictures called Shared Photo Stream. By choosing what pictures to share and which people to share them with, those you send them to will be able to like them and post comments.

The Bluetooth toggle has more prominence with placement next to the Wi-Fi toggle.

The Camera UI is now black.

In the settings menu brightness is now in the wallpaper screen.

In the auto brightness mode, your device will be in full control of the brightness and will move the slider above the toggle to show the currently selected setting. You’ll be able to see exactly how bright the screen is, but you won’t be able to adjust it in auto-mode like you could in past iOS versions.

The Settings and Clock apps have updated icons. The Clock app now allows you to access the iPod music library and assign any song as an alarm tone.

Compatibility

Not all Apple iPhone and iPad generations will get the upgrade. iOS 6 is compatible with iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S; iPad 2 and 3; and the fourth-generation iPod Touch. The first iPad has been left behind.

Siri access is expanded beyond the iPhone 4S, but only as far as iPad 3. The turn-by-turn navigation and the Flyover mode in Maps is only possible with the dual-core devices - iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and iPad 3.

Wrap up

The iOS 6 changes will make a difference for every Apple device that it’s made for.

The big deal is Maps. While much of Maps looks similar to Google Maps, it integrates 3D and voice navigation. The integration with Siri is most of what will make Apple’s Maps a winner with most users.

iOS 6 won’t inspire a mob of new customers, but we’ll see if the new iPhone 5 package makes the iOS 6 greater than the sum of its parts.

The founder of one of Europe’s leading illegal movie-streaming sites confessed and apologized for his crimes and got his sentence cut in half by a German judge. Deutsche Welle reported that 39-year-old Kino.to founder “Dirk B.” has been sentenced to 4.5 years in jail. He could have been ordered to spend 11 years in prison, but received a reduced sentence after confessing to his copyright infringement crimes.

Dirk B. will have to pay a $4.7 million fine to cover 1.1 million instances of copyright infringement. While in operation, Kino.to is estimated to have brought in as much as $8 million in advertising revenue.

Most recently, law enforcement officials in Sweden first raided The Pirate Bay in 2006, and the company’s founders were eventually sentenced to jail and forced to pay millions in fines. The service remained online, however, and it is still operational today. “The Swedish district attorney Fredrik Ingblad initiated a new investigation into The Pirate Bay back in 2010. Information has been leaked to us every now and then by multiple sources, almost on a regular basis. It’s an interesting read,” The Pirate Bay said on its blog. “We can certainly understand why WikiLeaks wished to be hosted in Sweden, since so much data leaks there. The reason that we get the leaks is usually that the whistleblowers do not agree with what is going on. Something that the governments should have in mind – even your own people do not agree.”

Not only is Apple under fire for the factory conditions and dust explosions that have occurred at their Chinese based manufacturing locations, but according UBM TechInsights, the Silicon Valley darling is looking at a lower profit margin on its upcoming iPad3.

The new iPad 3 will have an estimated bill of materials cost of $310, up from $270.86 on the original iPad and $276.27 on the iPad 2 based on versions at launch using 16 Gbytes memory. By selling all three at the same $629 price, Apple is cutting its profit margins about five points from 56-57 percent on the first two generation products to 51 percent on the new iPad, UBM TechInsights projected.

Apple’s profit margin on the iPad 2 will dip to an estimated 53 percent when it is discounted to $529 at the release of the new model. The iPad 2 sustains less of a hit because prices of its components are projected to have come down since its launch last year resulting in a current bill of materials cost of $248.07 for the 2012 version of the iPad 2, it said.

Why the cost increase? It is in large part thanks to the new iPad’s Retina display. UBM notes that those changes in display cost Apple approximately $70 compared to the $49.50 iPad2 display. In addition to the Retina display, the iPad3’s 4G LTE chips are more than double in cost to the iPad2’s 3G chips ($21 per chip compared to $10) and a more expensive A5X processor chip that adds another $6 in cost.

One can only assume that Apple will look to periphery devices (wireless keyboards, protective cases, docking stations etc) to help close the gap in their gross profit margins for this newest iPad. But as these devices become more expensive to manufacturer, retail prices will inevitably rise. The same may be true for Apple’s line of iPhone 4S smartphone as well. These handsets will also have the more costly 4G LTE chips and increasingly more advanced displays.

As these prices rise, it may cause consumers to take stock of what they are shelling out hundreds of dollars for. Many times, it is more cost effective to reinvest in tablet accessories and less costly peripheral devices to achieve a comparable user experience. And, as in home renovations, sometimes a fresh coat of paint or a new protective case is just as effective in revitalizing the object in question.

Does it come as a surprise to anyone that Absinthe jailbreak for both iPhone 4S and iPad 2 has been installed a million times within three days of it becoming available. The Absinthe jailbreak application for OS X and Windows versions now sit at version 0.2, and are said to both be bug-free

The Absinthe program has been updated to fix some faulty issues incorporated with the original program issue. These issues focused on improperly forcing a reboot on typical iDevice coupled with causing some icons to show up white on the home screen —otherwise it remains unchanged. These tweaks were from the iOS hacking “dream team” of pod2g, MuscleNerd and the whole Dev-Team. The release encompasses iPhone4S: 5.0 (9A334), 5.0.1 (9A405), 5.0.1 (9A406); and iPad2: 5.0.1 (9A405). If you haven’t backed up your SHSH blobs with TinyUmbrella yet, do so right away, as Apple will as a defensive move, more than likely accelerate the release of iOS 5.1 as a result of this jailbreak.

Get the latest in iphone 4S Jailbraking insight from this tutorial Video

Recently, the iPad 2 received and untethered jailbreak with iOS 4.3.3 which alleviated the need for you to be near a computer in the event that your iPhone or iPad required a reboot. Until then, the only iOS 5.0.1 jailbreaks for A5 devices have been tethered, meaning the device would have to be re-broken every time it rebooted.

The following video provides instruction on how to jailbreak your iPad 2

Finally the last video provides direction to create an untethered jailbreak for the 4th-gen iPod touch

If you need more information on jailbreaking... visit the JailbreakMe website where jailbreak apps are set to look as in a typical AppStore… click the “Free” button, then “Install” and 2 minutes later you’re done.

Note: Pure Mobile neither endorses or disapproves of jailbreaking activities... its role is limited to simply being and acting as a provider of technological information. We do however, want to convey to our readers that hacking any format is against the law. In addition, Pure Mobile will not held responsible for any damages incurred to any device when engaging in any jailbreak application(s) that are aforementioned in this blog or downloaded from any other sites.

Apple’s iPhone and iPad are undoubtedly two of its most iconic products. They were also revolutionary, creating demand for tablets, smartphones and apps that tied into customers’ existing iTunes infrastructure. With these kinds of accolades and cult-like following, there have been twinges of disappointment for Apple’s more recent launches of the iPad2 and iPhone 4S as they were so comparable in “look” and functionality at first glance.

This trend towards subtlety (and maybe towards a safer path in the post-Jobs era?), looks to be continuing with the iPad3. Attendees to the Consumer Electronics Show this past week could have perused the Apple booth and have had the iPad3 right in front of them without recognizing it as a the latest version of the tablet.

Like the iPhone 4S, there are differences, but touting this particular version as the iPad3 instead of the iPad2 or some other such moniker seems a bit overdone. This potential newest tablet addition has a body that is approximately 1mm thicker than its antecedent. For cases and various other accessories this minimal change will allow customers to recycle their previous purchases. The exception is for those protective cases designed to be exactly form fitting.

Another similarity to the iPhones 4S, this latest iPad contender has a noticeably larger rear camera, but does not have the LED flash. These improved features in camera quality and images will win over some customers. But, the front of the device is very much the same as the iPad2.

The iLouge writer who viewed the device at CES did note that the display model appeared to be six months old or so. That particular detail points to the many possible changes that could take place in revamping the iPad3 in the coming months. As we await the actual release of the tablet, current Apple users can continue to indulge their love of accessories without fear of them being obsolete when the new kid in town makes its debut.